Praca do Comercio

Lisbon is full of ‘pracas’ or squares, however most significant is the Praca do Comercio. Overlooking the river, the site is often referred as the getaway to the city as everyone arriving by boat used to disembark here. It’s also called Palace Square, this site being home to Portuguese royal residence for 400 years until collapse of imperialism in 1908. The first palace on site with its huge library was destroyed by the earthquake. The newer royal quarters occupied the arcaded buildings on the three sides of the square. They are now used as government offices. A horseback bronze statue of 15th century Portuguese King Dom Jose I dot in the middle to remind modern generation of the domain’s royal roots. Most visitors begin their Lisbon odyssey from this site by entering the city through an arched monumental gate crowned with several statues, one of them being of explorer Vasco da Gama, who in 1498 discovered the sea route to India.